Railway-switch.



` A. o. MATHER.

RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY s, 1907.

912,480. V Patented Feb.16,19o9.

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ALONZO O. MATHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAILWAY-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 3, 1907.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Serial No. 382,080.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALONZO O. MATHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in R ailway-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in switches for railways and the object of my vention is to provide a safety device for switches which will automatically adjust the switch points when the switch is not properly set.

A further object of my invention is to construct a safety switch which is particularly adapted to railways using what is known as the third rail system.

Referring to the drawing the gure represents a plan view of a railway switch, showing plhe1 wheels and axle detached from the veic e.

In the drawing 1 and 2 represent the main rails and 3 represents a third rail intermediately disposed between said main rails. The axle 4 of the car or other vehicle (not shown) has the wheels 5 and 6 mounted thereon which travel upon the main rails 1 and 2. Said aXle also has a wheel 8 mounted thereon which travels upon the third rail 3.

The switch proper consists, in addition to the main rails, of the movable switch points 9 and 10 which contact with the said rails 1 and 2 and form the switch for the wheels 5 and 6.

Connected with the movable switch points 9 and 10 by rods 12, are the rails 13 and 14. The end of each of said rails 13 and 14 is adapted to aline with the end of the third rail 3 when the switch is properly set in either direction.

The wheel 3 is provided with flanges 15 and 16 which embrace the third rail 3 and are adapted to embrace either of the rails 13 or 14 and bring the same into proper alinement with the third rail 3, which will properly adjust the switch. V'Ihe ends of the rails 13 and 14 are beveled at 17 so that the flanges 15 and 16 of the wheel 8 will more readily move the rails 13 and 14 when the said wheel 8 runs upon them.

The joint between the third rail 3 and the ends of the rails 13 and 14 is located in advance of the ends of the switch points 9 and 10 so that when the wheels are traveling in the direction of the arrow, the flanged wheel 3 will pass onto the rail 13 or the rail 14 and properly adjust the switch before the wheels 5 and 6 contact with the switch points 9 and 10.

In the drawing the switch points are shown improperly set, in which position the flange of the wheel 6 would either strike the switch point 10 and break the same or the wheel 6 would follow the main track 2 and the wheel 5 would follow the curved portion 20 of the track 1 which would cause an accident.

By my improved safety switch the above trouble is overcome and the switch will be automatically set by the action of the flanged wheel.

I-Iaving thus described my invention I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent.

l. In a safety switch for railways, the combination of main rails, rails having movable switch points, a trird rail having a movable point connected with said first mentioned movable switch points, and a wheel having anges adapted to engage said third rail and to properly adjust the rails forming said movable switch points in relation to said main rails.

2. In a safety switch for railways, the combination of main rails, rails having movable switch points, a rail intermediately disposed between said movable switch points and connected with said movable switch points, a wheel mounted upon a car on said main rails, and flanges upon said wheel to embrace said intermediate rail and properly adjust the said movable switch points in relation to said main rails.

3. In a safety switch for railways, the combination of main rails, a Xed third rail, movable switch points located adjacent said main rails, a movable section of said third rail connected with said movable switch points and a wheel adapted to run on said third rail and engage said movable section of said third rail and properly adjust said movablle switch points in relation to said main rai s.

4. In a safety switch for railways, the combination of main rails, movable switch points located adjacent said main rails, a movable third rail connected with said movable switch points, said movable third rail having its end tapered and a flanged wheel carried by a car on said main rail and adapted to embrace said movable third rail and properly adjust the same.

5. Ina safety switch for railways, the oornadjust said switch points in relation to said bination of main rails, movable switch points main rails. 10 located adjacent said main rails, tWo inter- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature Inediately disposed movable rails connected in presence of tWo Witnesses.

5 With said switch points, a flanged Wheel oar- ALONZO C. MATHER.

red by a ear on said main rails, said flanged Witnesses: Wheel adapted to engage either one of said JAMES F. BOYLAN, ntermediately disposed rails and properly M. R. CLEELAND. 

